October News Digest

October 31, 2016 | by Lawrance Binda

Courthouse Clears Hurdle

A proposed new federal courthouse for Harrisburg took a significant step forward last month, as a Congressional panel approved funding for the project.

U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta said the House Infrastructure and Transportation Committee approved full funding for the $194.4 million courthouse at N. 6th and Reily streets. Congress has already appropriated about $55 million for land acquisition, feasibility studies and design.

“This has been a long time coming, with various baby steps along the way, but now the Harrisburg courthouse will finally become a reality,” Barletta said in a statement.

The full House and Senate still must pass a final bill appropriating the money, but Barletta spokesman Tim Murtaugh called House committee approval the greatest obstacle.

“This was the major hurdle,” he said.

After many years of searching, the federal government selected the Midtown site in 2010, acquiring the land and razing a few old buildings. However, the site has sat empty since, as the project has awaited funds for construction.

Barletta said that he had re-considered the scope of the project, perhaps in favor of an annex to the existing federal courthouse downtown. However, he finally agreed that a new facility was needed.

The 243,000-square-foot building will contain as many as eight courtrooms, including three for district judges, two for senior district judges, two for magistrate judges and one for bankruptcy judges. The plan also calls for about 43 parking spaces.

Assuming that Congress appropriates the money, several years will likely pass before construction begins. Earlier this year, the U.S. General Services Administration released a priority list for new courthouses and annexes around the country, putting eight other projects ahead of Harrisburg’s.

Sinkhole Money Secured

Harrisburg last month secured nearly $1.7 million in federal funds to help remediate a sinkhole-ravaged stretch along the 1400-block of S. 14th Street.

In its award letter, the Federal Emergency Management Agency specified that Harrisburg must provide $550,000 in matching funds, which may come from other grants the city hopes to receive for the project.

The city envisions acquiring and tearing down 52 homes along the block. It then would fill in the sinkhole-prone area with backfill and soil, before turning it into permanent green space.

This was the second time that the city attempted to secure FEMA funds. Last year, the agency turned down the city’s request, directing money for sinkhole remediation to Palmyra. Harrisburg then asked FEMA to reconsider its project, which resulted in the award.

Giant sinkholes began opening up on the block in March 2014, making many of the houses uninhabitable and the remainder virtually worthless.

Council Weighs Market Contract

The Broad Street Market took a step towards a long-awaited restructuring last month, as City Council held a hearing that could lead Harrisburg’s historic market to become a nonprofit entity.

Most council members seemed to favor the proposal, which would permit a new nonprofit entity, called the Broad Street Market Alliance, to enter into a lease agreement with the city, which owns the 150-year-old market. The lease would run for five years with an option for a 10-year extension.

Under the agreement, the city would rent the two market buildings for $1 a year to the nonprofit, which then would be responsible for maintenance and repairs. Under this structure, the market would be eligible to apply for numerous grants reserved for nonprofits and also could raise money, said market Manager Beth Taylor, who estimates the market has $1.5 to $2 million in needed capital improvements.

Currently, the market operates within a complex structure, in which the city owns the market, but the for-profit Broad Street Market Corp. manages it under the supervision of the Historic Harrisburg Association. The city also charges $1 per year in rent, but is obligated to pay for maintenance and improvements.

Under the restructuring, the alliance would have a 13-member board, and its efforts would be supplemented by the creation of a new support and fundraising group called Friends of the Broad Street Market.

At press time, council had not scheduled a final vote on the lease agreement.

Midtown Project Receives Funds

A key renovation project in Midtown Harrisburg is expected to move rapidly to completion, as the state announced last month that it will release funding to help finish the block-long historic rehabilitation at N. 3rd and Boas streets.

In a press conference, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that the developer, WCI Partners, will receive $3.5 million from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, a state initiative that focuses on culturally and historically significant projects.

“We’re going to make sure that this project works, that courageous, hard-working people succeed,” said Wolf, who praised WCI for taking a risk to restore the long-vacant properties along the 900-block of N. 3rd Street.

The $8 million project consists of four buildings—the historic Harrisburg Moose Lodge Temple and three smaller townhouses, as well as a large parking lot.

WCI acquired the properties last year for $900,000 from Atlanta-based Mosaica Education, which had operated the Ron Brown Charter School there for five years. After its charter was not renewed, the school shut down in 2005, and the buildings have sat empty since then, increasingly dilapidated.

The 92-year-old, 38,000-square-foot former Moose Lodge opened last month as a fully renovated, mixed-use building consisting of 33 one-bedroom apartments and commercial space. The 6,500-square-foot ground floor is occupied by st@rtup Harrisburg, a city-based co-working space.

WCI Principal Alex Hartzler said that much of the RACP money will go towards finishing the project, especially the renovation of the three townhouses.

The back portions of the townhouses were chopped off years ago to expand the Ron Brown School’s parking lot and provide a play area. However, the buildings were not properly sealed and have sat empty for a dozen years, resulting in extensive water and infrastructure damage, Hartzler said.

More than 100 years ago, the townhouses were constructed with commercial space on the ground floors and apartments upstairs. WCI will return them to this mixed-use format, and TheBurg plans to occupy the ground floor space of two of the townhouses, which should be ready for occupancy early next year.

The state had not released RACP money since 2014. Several other Harrisburg-area groups, include Gamut Theatre Group and the Harrisburg City Islanders, have applied for funds. Wolf said funding for other projects would be announced soon.

Disclosure: Alex Hartzler is publisher of TheBurg.

Treasurer Criticizes Report

Harrisburg Treasurer Dan Miller gave a generally unfavorable assessment of a report last month that criticized the operations of the city treasurer’s office.

Before City Council, Miller said that the report, drafted by consultant Alvarez & Marsal, was correct in some of its conclusions, but incorrect in others. For instance, the report stated that the department lacked written procedures and policies, which, Miller said, was not true.

The report became controversial earlier this year when city Controller Charles DeBrunner made it public over the objections of Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who said its release was premature and unwise.

The city contracted with Alvarez & Marsal after former Treasurer John Campbell resigned following his arrest on theft charges not related to his city position. The report found no wrongdoing by Campbell as treasurer, but pointedly criticized how the office was run.

This was Miller’s first significant appearance before council since he was named treasurer in June to fill the unexpired term of former Treasurer Tyrell Spradley, who resigned the post.

“I have complete confidence in the city Treasury Department and operations,” Miller told City Council.

Home Sales Jump

Harrisburg-area home sales increased significantly in August, rising by 21 percent from the year-ago period.

Homes sales totaled 947 units compared to 783 units in August 2015, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors. The area covers all of Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties and parts of York, Lebanon and Juniata counties.

The median price rose to $169,900 from $165,000 in the prior year, said GHAR.

In Dauphin County, 311 homes sold compared to 265 last August. In Cumberland County, sales totaled 336 units versus 268. Sales in Perry County increased to 38 units versus 27 in August 2015.

So Noted

Capital Joe Coffee has opened at 418 Forster St., Harrisburg, across the street from the state Capitol complex. Capital Joe serves Square One Coffee of Lancaster and pastries from Brew Crumberland’s Best of New Cumberland.

Impact Harrisburg last month awarded the city $250,000 in emergency funding to upgrade its IT infrastructure after city workers experienced system failures that prevented access to email and other shared files. The award should allow the city to migrate certain mission-critical functions to a cloud-based solution, thereby improving performance and reducing the risk of crashes.

Whitaker Center has announced the planned retirement of its long-time CEO and president, Dr. Michael Hanes. Hanes will retire at the end of next year, prompting the board to initiate a search for his replacement.

Changing Hands

Berryhill St., 2418 & 610 Fillmore St.: T. Le to D. Nguyen, $30,000
Benton St., 545: MBHH RE LLC to Triple Play Properties LLC, $30,000
Benton St., 601: M. Munro to S. Harrison, $102,000
Briggs St., 216: M. & P. Parsons to J. Vingsness & A. Posner, $205,000
Briggs St., 2024: S. Chapman to S. Maurer, $35,450
Brookwood St., 2213: PA Deals LLC to Mid Atlantic IRA & C. Hampton IRA, $50,000
Calder St., 268: K. Ciminello to B. Roller, $107,500
Chestnut St., 2048: S. Reyes to A. & R. Hart, $103,000
Chestnut St., 2215: J. & H. Kelly to J. & E. Colt, $179,900
Credit Union Place, 1: Pa. State Employees Finance Dept. to Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School, $5,000,000
Derry St., 1316: Sandra Feigley Inc. c/o Thelma Johnston to S. Khan, $34,000
Derry St., 2035: S. Nagle to J. Guzman & M. Rodriguez, $89,900
Derry St., 2354: T. Pham to H. Pham & N. Le, $45,000
Emerald Ct., 2451: H. Conrad to J. & S. Theodorou, $82,000
Fillmore St., 610: T. Johnson to D. Nguyen, $30,000
Forster St., 1621: M&T Bank to PA Deals LLC, $47,000
Fulton St., 1738: PA Deals LLC to D. Reinhart, $124,900
Green St., 1623: B. Christine to S. Vemula & M. Chada, $115,000
Kensington St., 1952: J. & J. Belfonti to Tout USA LLC, $65,000
Lenox St., 1918: J. Zellers to A. Rosario & S. Castillo, $54,300
Lenox St., 1922: T. & J. Santiago to T. & B. Nguyen, $32,500
Lenox St., 1930: V. Bria to A. Perez, $62,500
Linden St., 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 117½ 119, 119½ & 100, 112 N. 13th St.: Habitat for Humanity Greater Harrisburg Area to CPenn Patriot Properties Midtown LLC, $131,000
2nd St., 1618: K. Robinson to D. Payne, $249,900
2nd St., 2531: S. Mirza & F. Jabari to H. & S. Johnson, $157,500
2nd St., 2539: D. Garber to E. & A. Stockstill, $165,000
2nd St., 2812: M. Macholtz to T. Brinkley, $280,000
2nd St., 3016: S. Trent to D. Marcheski & L. Boykin, $156,000
N. 3rd St., 1122: S. & G. Giambalvo to G. & K. Tennis, $197,500
3rd St., 1935: T. Stutzman to Monte Design Studio LLC, $40,000
3rd St., 3104: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development & ISN Corp. to M. Horgan & R. Kushner, $45,000
N. 4th St., 1627: GWD Capitol Heights LP to J. Parfitt, $103,000
5th St., 2313: K. & D. Izer to BCR 2 Properties LLC, $30,000
N. 5th St., 2437: Willowscott Investments to K. Hurst & N. Howze, $68,900
N. 6th St., 1625: S. & C. Lane & New Heights South LLC to A. & A. Gee & PA Department of General Services, $42,000
6th St., 1633: HarrisPenn Trust to PA Department of General Services, $554,500
6th St., 2130: S&T Bank to N. Mitaka, $46,000
N. 13th St., 146: L. Ware Jr. to W. Banks, $80,000
Front St., 1525, Unit 606: A. Moscato to J. Scarnati, $117,900
Front St., 1711: A. Haroundzadeh & D. Dohner to Harrisburg Redevelopment Group LLC, $1,065,000
Penn St., 1602: P. Larsen to M. Dinicola, $159,900
Penn St., 1916: WCI Partners LP to D. O’Hagan, $161,000
River St., 122: A. Rhoads & D. & S. Shatto to J. & G. Souders, $57,500
Rudy Rd., 1952: S. Schmidt to W. Zhang, $50,000
Rudy Rd., 2256: W. Ryan to Z. Rothfus, $176,900
Seneca St., 641 & 645: D. & K. Howard to DAP 7 Curtin LP, $55,000
Showers St., 615: J. & D. Groff to E. Hobbs, $155,000
13th St., 1400: J. & E. Cavitt to I. Medina & J. Culcay, $76,500
20th St., 209: R. Doerfler & J. Moffitt to J. & B. Readinger, $48,300
27th St., 710: D. & C. Howe to D. Barrick & A. Toci, $199,000
28th St., 728: S. Oscilowski to M. Marcus, $84,000
State St., 1604: Mid Penn Bank to C. Valdivieso, $37,000
Swatara St., 1523: Tri County HDC Ltd. To J. Macias, $102,900
Swatara St., 2145: S. & E. Reeves to M. Thompson & J. Longe, $64,900
Whitehall St., 1939: R. Miller Sr. to R. Howard, $50,900

Author: Lawrance Binda

Fall Throwbacks: Interesting takes on old-school sounds

October 31, 2016 | by Kait Gibboney

Gov’t Mule. Photograph by Anna Webber.

Fall has always been my favorite season, and November my favorite month. Most people don’t look forward to the colder weather and less abundant sunshine, but hear me out. The reason this time of year is my favorite is mostly because fall is the month for the leaves to turn those wonderful Pennsylvania colors we all know and love. As tree leaves grow older, the vibrant colors appear almost to convince the observer that old things can be something new and exciting again. This month, I’m fixated on some musical throwbacks that prove that updated oldies can be goodies.

GOV’T MULE, 11/4, 8PM, THE FORUM, starts at $32

This event is definitely one of Harrisburg’s hidden gems this month. Gov’t Mule is a ‘90s rock band formed originally as a side project by Warren Haynes and Allen Woody of the Allman Brothers Band. Joined by drummer Matt Abts from the Dickey Betts Band, they started as a low-budget experimental rock trio and grew to the popularity they know today. If you’ve never heard them, check out “Life on the Outside,” a bluesy rock ballad with just a touch of old-school country. In 2016, the band has been touring extensively and recently released “The Tel-Star Sessions,” an album comprised of demos from 1994. This band will remind you of the good old days of American rock n’ roll.

JONATHAN RAGONESE & STEVE RUDOLPH TRIO, 11/6, 2PM, MIDTOWN CINEMA, $15

I know it’s a bit weird to feature a film in the music column, but stay with me. This month, Midtown Cinema will show the silent film, “The General,” accompanied by local legends Jonathan Ragonese and the Steve Rudolph Trio. The film is a classic silent comedy from 1926 starring Buster Keaton, telling the story of a Civil War-era man rejected by the Confederate army and desperate to get his beloved train back from Union spies. Just like in the old days, live music will provide the soundtrack for the matinee, played by saxophonist Ragonese and pianist Rudolph. Whether you like silent films or old-time jazz, this event will transport you back to the days of flappers, spats and bathtub gin.

FLUX CAPACITOR, 11/26, ABBEY BAR, 10PM, $7/$10

If you like old school, classic psychedelic rock like I do, you’re going to love these guys. This up-and-coming band, originally from the Philadelphia area, is self-styled as “neopsychedelic rock” and was the “Tri-State Indie Jam Band of the Year” in 2013 and 2015. When listening to these funky, dreamy tunes, you can tell the band gets its inspiration from a blend of well-known artists, such as Jimi Hendrix, Radiohead, Phish, Tool and Bob Marley. Their lengthy jams will keep you entertained with guitar shredding reminiscent of the days of Zeppelin and Santana, intricate ‘70s keyboard and Rasta drums. Flux Capacitor is currently on tour throughout the Northeast, centering mainly on their home state of Pennsylvania. Be sure to catch these guys if you’re looking an evening filled with mind-bending flower power.

Mentionables: Livingston Taylor & Tom Chapin w/Eva, Nov. 5, H*MAC; Henry Rollins Spoken Word Tour, Nov. 7, Whitaker Center; Cassie & Maggie McDonald, Nov. 13, Abbey Bar; Cheetah Chrome w/The Bo Deadlys, Nov. 17, H*MAC; Start Making Sense, Nov. 19, Abbey Bar; Community Concert of Thanksgiving, Nov. 20, The Forum; The Machine, Nov. 23, Whitaker Center

Author: Kait Gibboney

Small Town, Big Shopping: From a sari to Sorry! you’ll find it in Hummelstown

October 31, 2016 | by Phyllis Zimmerman

Toys on the Square

When Nan Gunnett spotted an available storefront on Hummelstown’s town square, she knew this was the place to open her fine crafts shop.

“I came here because I like Hummelstown,” said Gunnett, who opened Nan Gunnett & Co. Fine Craft Gallery in March 2015. “It’s quaint and small. It’s a very nice community, but a lot of people don’t even know about it.”

At first glance, this Dauphin County community with around 4,500 residents might appear sleepy and quiet. In reality, through, the Hummelstown Business and Professional Association boasts a roster of around 100 business owners and professionals.

Want to play Santa’s elf? Toys on the Square is stocked for the little munchkins in your life. Looking for that unique gift? Visit Nan Gunnett or Down a Country Road. Need a lift while shopping? The caffeine’s brewing at Seasonal Grounds Tea Bar.

It’s Great

Two years ago, Anju Singh opened Aanchal Apparel & Accessories, where she carries a wide variety of colorful clothing and jewelry from her native India. She began by selling items from her home but soon realized that she needed a storefront to accommodate a swelling customer base.

“The culture of Hummelstown is a good mix,” said Singh, who also serves as president of the borough’s business association. “It’s a small town, but it’s broad-minded.”

Down West Main Street from Singh’s shop, Nan Gunnett sells unique, handcrafted pottery, jewelry, hand-blown glass pieces, copper mobiles and more by American and Canadian artists.

“I have personally met just about every artist whose work we sell here,” said Gunnett. “It’s not mass-produced. Each piece is just a little different because it’s all handmade.”

For instance, on Nov. 11 and 12, Harrisburg crafter Richelle Leigh will visit for a trunk sale featuring her fine jewelry creations.

Before opening her store, Gunnett ran a shop in Hershey’s Briarcrest Square for 13 years and said that several of her old business neighbors there also have moved to Hummelstown. In fact, it was Gunnett’s old neighbors who urged her to reopen her business in Hummelstown, she said.

“‘Come on down here, it’s great,’ they told me,” Gunnett recalled.

Like Family

Toys on the Square comprises about 8,000 square feet of dolls, trucks, crafts, games, trains, toy animals, Magic Ink books and countless other items. It also offers an onsite pottery studio for artists of all ages.

“Our variety is unique,” said owner Grafton Stine, who said the store has been in business for 30 years. “We sold an 18,000-piece puzzle just a few minutes ago. We have stuff here for all ages.”

“Nothing is computer generated here, either,” added store employee Donna Trostle.

Youngsters can entertain themselves as parents shop with the in-store Thomas the Train table display and riding toys. For parents on the go, Toys On The Square offers pickup service and free gift-wrapping.

“It’s very personal here,” Trostle said. “It’s more like family.”

But maybe the kids in your life are the furry kind. In that case, the Hershey Pet Food Company, just a few blocks away, stocks healthy treats and fun playthings for your pet. After all, they’ve been good (more or less) all year long, too.

For the adults, Down a Country Road, just up the street, sells gifts, décor items, food and drink mixes and a whole lot more placed through 11 themed rooms set in a charming 1949 house.

“I have everything,” owner Paulette Flicker said. “Candles, wall décor, outside flags and mailbox covers, things for every room in the house.”

Flicker opened the business with a partner in 1994 but has maintained the store by herself since 1999. She also runs the PJ Scoops ice cream stand located at the back of the Down a Country Road homestead. The “55 Flavors of Fun” treat shop is open from April to October each year.

Flicker also manages to find time to help out at the Backyard Woodshop, which is owned by her boyfriend, Richard Lundeen. It offers furniture stripping and restoration, structural repairs, part reproduction and veneering.

Speaking of guy stuff, don’t hesitate to stop into Bill Maloney’s Men’s Wear & Tailor Shop, which has been making fellows look good for almost 40 years.

Throwback

If all this shop-hopping wears you out, you can take a break at the Seasonal Grounds Tea Bar located directly across from Nan Gunnett in the Cocoa Flats complex on West Main Street. Co-owners Tom Brown and Crystal Huff opened the shop in October 2015.

“We roast our own coffee with no syrups and blend our own teas,” Brown said. “It’s a throwback.”

Customers can buy beverages by the cup or purchase specialty teas by the ounce and coffees by the pound. Tea varieties include Raspberry Fields Forever, Just Peachy and Mint Chocolate Chip. Coffee choices include Not Your Mamma’s Java, Up In Smoke and Awake O Sleeper.

Seasonal Grounds is hosting a Hummelstown Area Food Bank fundraiser on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m., featuring live music. Patrons are asked to bring a non-perishable food donation.

Eventually, Brown said, he and Huff would like to start afterschool programs in the shop’s unfinished back room or rent it out for community events. For now, however, patrons simply can sit back with a steaming cup and engage in one of the many board games on hand.

“We want to get people to just come in and relax with friends,” he said.

For more information about Hummelstown businesses and upcoming events, visit the Hummelstown Business and Professional Association’s website at www.hummelstown.com.

Going There

Are you interested in doing a little shopping in Hummelstown this season? You have dozens of stores to choose from, including the following shops mentioned in this story:

Aanchal Apparel & Accessories, 417 W. Main St., www.aanchalapparel.com
The Backyard Woodshop, 121 W. Second St., www.backyardwoodshop.com
Bill Maloney’s Men’s Wear & Tailor Shop, 17 E. Main St., www.billmaloneymenswear.com
Down a Country Road & PJ Scoops, 295 E. Main St., www.downcountryroad.com
Hershey Pet Food Co., 245 W. Main St., Facebook: Hershey Pet Food Company
Nan Gunnett & Co. Fine Craft Gallery, 7 W. Main St., www.nangunnettco.com
Seasonal Grounds Tea Bar, 7 W. Main St., www.seasonalgroundsteabar.com
Toys on the Square, 22 E. Main. St., www.toysonthesquare.com

Author: Phyllis Zimmerman

The Pre-K Way: New City School brings another educational option to Harrisburg

October 31, 2016 | by Jessica Sprajcar

Heather Tomer wanted to enroll her son, Brodey, in a pre-K program but quickly came upon a troubling fact.

“The price in this area is just too expensive,” she said.

Tomer and her family had recently moved to Lower Paxton Township. While browsing Facebook for free, kid-friendly events, she came across an ad that intrigued her. It was for a school called the New City School in Harrisburg. So, she visited the website and discovered its free pre-K program. She immediately applied, and Brodey was enrolled a week later.

The New City School is an independent Christian school located at Second City Church on Verbeke Street in Midtown. Pre-K classes began in September and operate every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning. The classroom size is kept small (13 students are enrolled), with one head teacher, one assistant teacher and one or more volunteer aides.

Tomer is hardly alone in her need for affordable pre-K education.

The United Way of the Capital Region’s “2014 Life in the Capital Region” report shows that three quarters of 3- and 4-year olds in the Harrisburg area do not have access to high quality pre-K, and, for those that do, the price is often prohibitive.

Ready to Learn

The New City School uses the classical approach to teaching, which stretches back to ancient Greece and stresses public speaking, reasoning, writing and logic. The school’s promotional brochure adds to that, saying it “coincides with students’ developmental stages, building on the foundation of grammar, and focusing on logic, critical thinking and effective oral and written communication.”

“The curriculum hits all the senses every day and is play-based,” said Liz Barna, the school’s head teacher.

Students, she said, are exposed to counting, letters, art, music and life skills.

“This year is getting them ready to learn and teaching them that learning is fun,” she said.

Barna is a member of Second City Church and long-time art teacher. Through her involvement with the church, she learned of the school’s unique model and wanted to get involved.

“We hope to create kids who think well and can appreciate beauty and trust and love learning,” she said. “We want them to benefit their community and take it home to their family.”

High Hopes

School administrators and board members had hoped to open the New City School a few years ago. However, the project was put on hold until the arrival of Andy Phillips. Phillips is a former pastor with a background in elementary education and social work. Now, he acts as executive director, head administrator, classroom assistant and even janitor for the school.

“I wear a lot of hats,” he said.

Phillips got involved with the New City School through his involvement with Lagos Academy, a school in York County on which this school is based. He recognized the lack of affordable pre-K programs in the Harrisburg area and the long waiting list for the Head Start program.

“I felt I had to do this,” he said. “I want to be part of addressing education in the city.”

Barna echoed those sentiments.

“We don’t want to be seen as a competitor,” she said. “We want to build on what’s already here and become part of the broader educational community.”

The New City School does not require that all its students come from lower-income households, though most do. In addition, most live in Harrisburg, though that’s also not a requirement.

Saidah Palmer lives in the city with her son, Elijah, who began attending the school in September.

“He seemed comfortable from day one,” said Palmer. “He really, really likes Mr. Andy.”

She discovered the New City School through word of mouth and Facebook posts. Initially, she was looking at other area pre-K programs, but the cost of private school was a factor.

“I have so much faith in what they do that I’m helping them look for funding so they can continue with their work,” she said.

According to Phillips, the total cost to operate the pre-kindergarten and lay the groundwork for next year is $65,000. They have raised about one-third of that amount to date. In addition to monetary donations, the school is always looking for breakfast and snack donations, as well as school supplies and in-classroom volunteers.

Phillips and the school’s other board members have high hopes for the future. They have a vision of expanding the school to a second pre-K program in 2017 and adding one grade level per year until they reach the 8th grade.

At that point, the school will begin charging tuition on a rolling scale based on income, he said.

“I would love to have a school of 150 to 180 students, with a great mix of kids from the whole spectrum of incomes, cultures and backgrounds,” Phillips said. “That diversity breaks down a lot of walls and creates a rich learning environment. And it goes a long way toward reconciliation and building respect.”

For more information about New City School, visit www.newcityschoolharrisburg.org or email [email protected].

Author: Jessica Sprajcar

Living the Goat Life: David Kern brings his artisanal goat milk products to the Broad Street Market

October 31, 2016 | by Ann Beth Knaus

It was a simple gift of homemade soaps crafted with natural herbs that sparked David Kern’s passion for soap making.

Both he and his husband suffer from allergies, and regular bar soaps left their skin prone to breakouts. To help, Kern’s mother-in-law gave them some of her personal kitchen concoctions. After one use, Kern realized he had found the solution to their problems and embarked on a newfound hobby of creating natural soap for all skin types.

What was once a problem now had become an opportunity. Last year, Kern founded Vie Chevre, which means “goat life,” as a pop-up stand in Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market. In June, he moved into a permanent spot just inside the door in the market’s brick building.

Remarkable Difference

Much like his mother-in-law, Kern got started in his own kitchen, launching the business there before branching out.

A couple of years ago, after transitioning to a new job that left his weekends open, he filled the time by experimenting with recipes to create soaps for himself, his family and friends. To get started, he went to the Broad Street Market and purchased goat milk and other essential ingredients. He made three variations, and, before he knew it, had about 100 bars of soap sitting around his apartment.

Soon after, Kern was asked to put up a table to sell his soaps at the Odd Ones Bizarre, which allowed him to showcase his creations without renting actual store space. Over the course of a week, Kern decided on the name, the packaging and a logo for his business. The day of the event, he sold out of every soap bar he had created.

That one event not only launched a brand, it also began creating a loyal customer base. Elaine Brady Smith, a local artist housed at the Millworks, has been faithful to Vie Chevre since that first day at Odd Ones. In fact, even today, she loves his original formula soap so much that she buys it in bulk, purchasing eight to 10 bars a time, because it’s the only soap she can use on her ultra-sensitive skin.

“I have noticed a remarkable difference in my skin since I started using David’s soap, and now I won’t use anything else,” she said. “I loved David’s energy, and he is so passionate about what he does. We have become good friends.”

Amazing Journey

As his business expanded, Kern needed to find a local farmer who would supply goat’s milk in larger quantities. His first herd was from a farm in Hershey, but that was short-lived as the owner could no longer maintain the farm. So, he turned to Facebook for help, and that’s how he found his current supplier, Standing Goat Farm. The 13-acre farm, which is 15 minutes outside of Harrisburg, houses goats, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens.

But it’s the goats that matter to Kern.

“I did not want to work with a dairy goat farm, but one that treats their animals like their children,” Kern said. “Happy goats mean happy milk.”

The partnership benefits both operations. The growth of Kern’s business helps to support the farm operation, and Standing Goat Farm has a local market to sell off the excess milk that the Nigerian dwarf goats naturally produce. Two of the stars of the goat herd, CeeCee and Lucy, sometimes can be seen at the market during showcases like 3rd in the Burg.

“Goats are just the most adorable thing in the world,” Kern said.

As winter approaches, the goats don’t produce as much milk, so Kern freezes what he gets on a weekly basis and uses it throughout the season. Goat milk will stay fresh in the freezer for up to six months.

Although soap is the cornerstone of Kern’s business, he has branched out into candle-making with the help of Dimitra Diggs, owner of Urban Snob up the block on N. 3rd Street. Diggs is a candle-maker herself and a person Kern looks to for guidance on the subject.

Kern works with other local artisans who want to showcase their wares, offering a generous 90/10 commission split in favor of the artist. His only requirement is that they create something exclusive for Vie Chevre. Home goods, pillows and wood and ironwork pieces can be found in his store, with plans soon to offer furniture for order.

Besides the Broad Street Market, Kern’s products can be found at Farmers on the Square in Carlisle, the Inner-Connection in New Cumberland and Enchanted Evening in Lebanon or online at www.theallnaturalmale.com.

“It has been a path to an amazing journey,” he said.

Vie Chevre is located inside the brick building of the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg. To learn more, visit www.viechevre.com.

Author: Ann Beth Knaus

Troubled Mind: “Christine” brilliantly tells of a life in descent

October 31, 2016 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Still Photographer, Jonny Cournoyer.

We all know someone like Christine Chubbuck. Reserved, deadpan, not a lot of friends. We don’t think much about these people, until they do what Christine did.

Based on the true story of a news anchor who committed suicide on live television, director Antonio Campos’ new film, “Christine,” transports us back to 1974 and follows its title character at her job at WXLT-TV, a cable TV news station in Sarasota, Fla.

Christine (Rebecca Hall) has high hopes for her career. She loves the work she does, focusing on the smaller stories that let you get to know the community. But her boss, Michael (Tracy Letts), wants the station to focus on grittier, juicier stories. “If it bleeds, it leads,” he says, using the phrase he heard at a recent conference.

Christine is not what you would call approachable. She has few friends at the station. She keeps an amiable but peripheral relationship with Jean (Maria Dizzia), her camerawoman, and occasionally fumbles through conversations with her longtime crush, George (Michael C. Hall). Outside of work, her only friend is her mother (J. Smith Cameron), with whom she lives since she started having her “moods” a while back.

The lack of social stimulation is, she thinks, probably why she’s having so much pain in her abdomen—it’s stress. Stress is starting to weigh down on Christine. And, when station manager Bob Anderson (John Collum) decides to visit to stake out the “local talent” for a job opening in Baltimore, it’s just one more bean to tip the scale.

The plot that follows is a fascinating analysis of a person with depression. Campos does a great job of drawing the life out of this TV personality, fleshing out the story to get us deeper into Christine’s mind. And, while Campos perfectly orchestrates the rising tension (with a particularly heartbreaking group-therapy scene in which she finally voices her problems), Hall does a fantastic job of capturing the audience’s heart. She steals the show, simultaneously bringing tenderness and desperation to her character—and an emotional depth beyond any of her other performances.

This is a film you won’t want to miss. “Christine” starts at Midtown Cinema on Nov. 18.

Midtown Cinema – November Special Events

The Late Shift with Zeroday
“Aliens” (1986)
Saturday, Nov. 5, 10:30 p.m.

National Theatre Live presents
“Threepenny Opera”
Sunday, Nov. 6, 6 p.m.

“Hamlet” with Benedict Cumberbatch
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 6 p.m.
Sunday Nov. 19, 2 p.m.

Down in Front! comedy riffing
“Plan 9 from Outer Space” (1959)
Friday, Nov. 11, 9:30 p.m.

Classic Film Series
“War of the Worlds” (1953)
Sunday, Nov. 13, 6 p.m.

3rd in the Burg $3 Movie
“Galaxy Quest” (1999)
Friday, Nov. 18, 9:30 p.m.

Faulkner Honda Family Film Series
“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie” (1995)
Saturday, Nov. 19, noon
Sunday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m.

Author: Sammi Leigh Melville

Telescopes, zip lines and more: Residents brainstorm on Reservoir Park improvements

October 27, 2016 | by Danielle Roth

Peter Simone of Simone Landscape Architecture had filled this wall with more than 40 ideas from the community.

A telescope, mounted high above the city in Reservoir Park, would give city youth a different perspective on life—perhaps one more expansive than their lives in the compact neighborhoods that sit just below the hill.

So said Anwar Curtis, a paraprofessional with Premier Arts and Sciences Charter School and a founder of the Harrisburg Music Festival, which takes place in the park.

“The sky is the limit for our children,” he said.

Indeed, the sky was the limit at Tuesday’s brainstorming session for Reservoir Park, the first of four public meetings to develop a “Master Plan” to improve the park. More than 60 park neighbors, community leaders and Harrisburg residents met at the Kappa Omega Chapter Building on State Street to share their visions.

Ed Black of H. Edward Black & Associates, the firm leading the project, kicked off the meeting.

“We truly want your input,” he said.

And residents happily complied. By the end of the two-hour meeting, Peter Simone of Simone Landscape Architecture had filled a wall with more than 40 ideas from the community.

Last year, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources awarded a $50,000 matching grant to fund the creation of a master site plan. The city used $50,000 from a 2014 community development grant to match the funds.

The city hired H. Edward Black & Associates, Simone Landscape Architecture, Urban Partners and certified parks and recreation practitioner Patrick Stasio to help produce the master plan.

Most of all, attendees expressed a need for better infrastructure such as trashcans, restrooms, bike racks and benches.

Residents said litter was a problem in the park.

A neighbor of the park, Pete Baltimore, said he walks his dog daily and brings two trash bags: one for his pet and one for litter. He added that he only sees one trash can while on his walks, which leads to litter.

Other park elements, like public bathrooms, should be better maintained, residents agreed. Several suggested partnering with corporations or other sponsors to support the maintenance of historic fountains, which no longer function.

Others advocated for more open-air music in the park and brought up the success of past summer reggae festivals in the bandshell. They suggested using the Levitt Performing Arts Pavilion for a D.J., the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra and other outdoor concerts. The need for free events also came up.

The Levitt Performing Arts Pavilion.

“If you don’t have any money, you should be able to go and do something,” said Ben Stokes, a park neighbor.

A few residents said they felt disconnected to the Civil War Museum, which sits atop the park and costs $12 for an adult to enter.

Several people emphasized that the park should engage children and teens. A mini water park, an ice skating rink, a skateboarding park, climbing wall and outdoor movie nights all would interest youth, they said. Someone even threw out the idea of having a zip line.

“No one knows how to think of the park as a place to constructively play there,” one woman said.

Another resident suggested that teenagers should have opportunities to volunteer as park rangers.

The park features two playgrounds.

The park has potential for more recreational sports opportunities. Members of the YMCA’s Hope in Handball group advocated for building handball facilities. Others suggested installing soccer and football fields. Some recommended that marathons and road races could pass through Reservoir Park and introduce more people to the area.

Even on this first brainstorming session, residents brought up the ever-persistent question of funding.

“We want to shoot high so we come up with a plan that works” Simone said. “Then we can find partners with funding who can help move this forward.”

Getting involved

Even if you missed the first meeting, there are several other opportunities for you to weigh in on the future of Reservoir Park:

Take an online survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ReservoirPark

Mark your calendar for public meetings:
December 7, 6 to 8 p.m., location TBD
April 26, location and time TBD
July 19, location and time TBD

For more information, including dates for focus groups and study committee meetings, see the city’s website:
https://harrisburgpa.gov/Reservoirplan/

Author: Danielle Roth

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

October 27, 2016 | by Sara Bozich

Omg I loved last weekend. I weekended like a normal person, it was amazing.

This week is like me. Halloween party, in-laws in town, gym, market, Central PA Whiskey Festival, football, thinking I’ll accomplish more than I will, panicking about a new week. You know, the usual.

What are you doing this weekend?

(more…)

It’s Not All That Bad: A response to the column, “Printing Pressure”

October 26, 2016 | by William S. Jackson

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

In the October 2016 edition of TheBurg, Editor Larry Binda bemoaned the decline of the newspaper business and the projected end to some publications.

He decried the woes of the local daily (turned three days a week), The Patriot-News, and its something-to-be-desired online product, PennLive, version of the news.

I couldn’t agree with him more, but please don’t tar the entire newspaper industry with one brush.

Reason? Here at The Sun, which covers Hershey, Hummelstown, Palmyra and the surrounding townships, things are just fine. How fine? In 2007, when wife Rosemary and I sold The Sun, then covering Hershey, Hummelstown and Lower Dauphin County, we had just experienced the best year of the 37 years we owned the paper. This was in spite of the fact that The Patriot-News was more than 10 times larger than us and still had full-time reporters covering our coverage area.

Today, The Patriot-News’ circulation is less than half of what it was in 2007, and The Sun’s circulation has increased by 44 percent, with advertising revenue at record levels.

Why? Because we never forgot our mission. I had a standard phrase when we owned, and I edited The Sun—nobody gave a damn what I thought about Red China. They wanted to know what I thought about the Derry Township supervisors (the governing body that runs Hershey).

We recognized that no one bought The Sun to get their national, international or even state news. They wanted to know what was happening right around here and about their neighbors. You know—the mom and pop stuff—local government, school news, church news, local high school and Little League sports, police news, who bought and sold their house, etc. Also, lots of really good pictures and, oh yes, four-color availability throughout the paper. In other words, all the news they couldn’t get anywhere else.

We sit right in the middle between The Patriot-News and the Lebanon Daily News, and both papers left us with lots of local news they didn’t cover.

The dailies just didn’t get it. They continue to fill their front pages with national and international news, which most readers got last night on the television 11 o’clock news and pushed state, county and local news back further and further in their product with less and less detailed coverage.

Take The Patriot-News, for example. They are sitting right here in the seat of state government and should be the authority on what is happening on the Hill in all branches of state government. Yet that title belongs to the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. That, plus the fact they seemingly haven’t yet realized half the population of Harrisburg city is black, but you’d never know it except in the police and crime reporting. African-American social news? What’s that?

To the east of The Sun, our circulation now exceeds that of the Lebanon Daily News, which is suffering some of the same maladies as The Patriot-News.

Yes, The Sun is fortunate. We only have three school districts and the Milton Hershey School to cover, while The Patriot-News probably has 10 times that many. We also have the Penn State M.S. Hershey Medical Center (now the area’s largest employer) and the Hershey Company, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts and Hershey Trust (now No. 2 employer), while The Patriot-News and Lebanon Daily News try to cover those and many more businesses, hospitals, etc. But we work with them—most have a PR person—and give them good, if not always to their liking, coverage.

Yet, for example, The Patriot-News continues to cut staff, even some of their best. Guess what? Some are now writing for The Sun. Not full-time, mind you, but part-time or as stringers. We also continue the program I started many years ago of utilizing budding young high school journalists, who get their first taste of the business with us and get some good clippings in the process for those college entrance interviews.

So, Editor Larry, it’s not all that bad. You point to the demise of your competition, Fly and Mode, as major competitors. And why? Because you’ve obviously done some market research and are producing a better product, especially under new Publisher J. Alex Hartzler. Your competitors, and ours, are just pumping out the same old product.

William S. Jackson is the former owner/editor of the Sun.

Editor’s Note: Editor Larry agrees with much of the author’s argument that some newspapers have made a critical mistake, both to their missions and their businesses, by dialing back local coverage. Like The Sun, TheBurg’s circulation and revenue figures will hit record highs this year.

Get costumes ready for City Council’s Pre-Trick or Treat Bash

October 24, 2016 | by Danielle Roth

Andrew Bliss, Capital Region Water; Ben Allatt, City Council; Destini Hodges, City Council; Wanda Williams, City Council; Captain Gabe Olivera, Police Department; Brian Enterline, Fire Chief

Get your Halloween costume ready, if it’s flame resistant, that is.

Harrisburg City Council will host a pre-trick or treat night bash at two fire stations on Wednesday Oct. 26. Kids and families will be offered candy, trick or treat bags, and safety tips from the fire and police departments.

Everyone is encouraged to dress up and enjoy the festivities. At 6 p.m. kids will partake in a mask decorating program.

City Council President Wanda Williams said the council created the event “in the spirit of getting the community together for our kids.” City Council has not hosted an event like this before.

Fire stations previously have handed out candy. This year the fire department wanted to be proactive by sharing safety tips the day before.

Fire Chief Brian Enterline said to keep candle-lit pumpkins and dry decorations separated. To avoid getting hit by drivers, kids should cross at cross-walks, wear something reflective, and bring a flashlight. Captain Gabe Olivera said a few kids got nipped by cars last year because they were crossing the street between parked cars.

Donations from community partners and city council members supplemented $72 from City Council’s budget to fund this event.

If you go:

October 26, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Harrisburg Fire Station #1 at 1820 N. 6th Street
Harrisburg Fire Station #8 at 9 S. 13th Street

The fire and police departments share these safety tips:

Be careful with candles in pumpkins
Keep candles away from dry decorations like corn husks
Dress children in flame-resistant costumes
Make sure kids can see through masks to avoid tripping
Bring a flashlight
Cross at crosswalks
Have something reflective on costume

Author: Danielle Roth

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